[Etidronic acid therapy in Paget's disease of bone]

Treatment of Paget's disease of bone was done in 32 patients using monotherapy with disodium etidronate (Diphos). A further 19 patients underwent combined treatment with etidronate and human calcitonin. Both monotherapy and combined treatment led to marked regression of disease activity in most patients as measured be decreased activity of alkaline phosphatase. In most cases this coincided with improvement of complaints. In two cases with initial monotherapy and in six with combined treatment success of treatment remained unsatisfactory. The latter group comprised patients with very serious illness. Our experience suggests that etidronic acid is an effective and well tolerated drug relatively free of side-effects for the treatment of Paget's disease of bone.